Is It Swine...or Something Else?

You ever had the feeling that something was sitting on top of your chest and restricting your breathing? Well, that's how the virus started. I went to bed on Saturday night with achiness all over my body and a sensation that something- a person, an animal, a rather large file box, the possibilities are endless- was literally parked on top of my chest. Sunday morning, I woke up to a slight fever, more muscle aches, a sore throat, a headache, a cough, a stuffy nose, and a general complaint of "man I feel like crap."

My oldest daughter, Madison, was sick with this for four days. My son, Peyton, had it for three days, and my husband was not feeling well last week. I can't say he was sick because his pain threshold is not like a normal human. He's more on the lines of a superhero, nothing quite bothers him like it hurts everyone else. He's the type of person who can take a dose of Tylenol Cold and Flu and call it good. Luckily, my youngest hasn't gotten this virus...yet. I'm currently knocking on wood, crossing my fingers, and avoiding walking beneath ladders, of any sort, in hopes that feeble superstitions will keep the bugs out of her tiny body.

So what do I have? Is it the H1N1 virus we've all heard about, or just a regular respiratory illness? Honestly, I have no idea. These are the CDC's listed symptoms for the H1N1 Flu, also known as the Swine Flu...
The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 and have respiratory symptoms without a fever. Severe illnesses and deaths have occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

Here are the symptoms of a respiratory virus (RSV) according to the Mayo Clinic...
Signs and symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection typically appear about four to six days after exposure to the virus. In adults and older children, RSV usually causes mild cold-like signs and symptoms. These include:
Congested or runny nose
Dry cough
Low-grade fever
Sore throat
Mild headache
A general feeling of unease and discomfort (malaise)

As I sit on my couch, my rear forming an imprint because this is all I've been able to do for the past three days, I wonder what I might possibly have? Can I assume it's the H1N1 and say I've paid my dues to this monster, and therefore, can move on to other seasonal viruses? Or should I recover from this one, and fear the big one will hit anytime in the next few months? We'll have to wait and see. On a bright note- I did buy one of those new temporal thermometers. Just one quick swipe across the forehead reads a person's temperature. How cool is that?